Question about "working up" with polishes

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imported_Aurora40

New member
I have a question for you pros, since you charge to detail, about when you polish a customers car. If a customer has a car with some reasonable oxidation or swirls, how do you approach this? The wisdom always spouted is to start with the least aggressive product/pad and work your way up. But if someone is paying you, they may not want to pay for 3 or 4 applications of a polish/cleaner/compound until you get the right one. And as a pro, you may not want to try 2 or 3 or 4 different things before one works and then just get paid for one application. So what do you do? Do you set your pricing for that sort of thing high in the first place to take into account that you may need to do it twice or three times (which may turn some people off to it)? Or do you explain to the customer that it may take a few applications and they need to pay for it? Or do you just take an educated guess at what the best combo would be and not bother trying the lighter stuff first? Or do you just try different stuff on a small part and whatever works there is what you use everywhere? Or do you just set up your pricing so that that sort of thing is part of a larger detailing package (i.e. you don't offer "polishing" as a set-cost stand-alone option).



The reason I ask is I am thinking about starting to detail a bit on the side. I figured I'd charge for an application of polish or glaze (basically I'd charge per application of something to the paint). But then that's a problem if something isn't tough enough. So I was wondering what some of you do. I hope that this is a clear question. Thanks!
 
Aurora40 said:
I have a question for you pros, since you charge to detail, about when you polish a customers car. If a customer has a car with some reasonable oxidation or swirls, how do you approach this? The wisdom always spouted is to start with the least aggressive product/pad and work your way up. But if someone is paying you, they may not want to pay for 3 or 4 applications of a polish/cleaner/compound until you get the right one. And as a pro, you may not want to try 2 or 3 or 4 different things before one works and then just get paid for one application. So what do you do? Do you set your pricing for that sort of thing high in the first place to take into account that you may need to do it twice or three times (which may turn some people off to it)? Or do you explain to the customer that it may take a few applications and they need to pay for it? Or do you just take an educated guess at what the best combo would be and not bother trying the lighter stuff first? Or do you just try different stuff on a small part and whatever works there is what you use everywhere? Or do you just set up your pricing so that that sort of thing is part of a larger detailing package (i.e. you don't offer "polishing" as a set-cost stand-alone option).



The reason I ask is I am thinking about starting to detail a bit on the side. I figured I'd charge for an application of polish or glaze (basically I'd charge per application of something to the paint). But then that's a problem if something isn't tough enough. So I was wondering what some of you do. I hope that this is a clear question. Thanks!
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I have 2 packages that address waxing and polishing respectively. The first is what we call "the express wax" and it includes a good hand car wash, interior vacuum and an application of high quality wax. This is the package I sell to people who want a nice coat of protection and don't need any polishing done. We also offer our "Paint Polishing and Protection Package" and this includes a good hand car wash, interior vacuum, any paint preparation needed (claying etc..), polishing of all painted surfaces, and a coat of high quality wax or paint sealant (customer's choice). We start the express wax at $79.95 for cars and the paint polishing package starts at $109.95 for cars. You basically need to assess the condition of the paint, diagnose any problems and charge accordingly for what you need to do to correct them. If someone doesn't want to pay a fair price for what is needed send them to the hacker down the road.
 
ShineShop said:
You basically need to assess the condition of the paint, diagnose any problems and charge accordingly for what you need to do to correct them. If someone doesn't want to pay a fair price for what is needed send them to the hacker down the road.
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Well, but it isn't always possible (for me at least) to look at paint and say "DACP with a polishing pad" or "SFP with a cutting pad" and know that it is the least aggressive combo that will provide satisfactory results.



What you are saying is that you sort of package it. Swirl removal or polishing would be part of a larger package. That seems to be the most sensible way because then you can factor in the price of a little trial and error (but you also work larger scale so a few bad cars that take some trial-and-error will be made up for by some sweet cars that are a breeze). I figured I would set my pricing up a bit more a-la-carte. So a person could pick a wash and a polishing. Or two polishings, one with a swirl remover and one with a glaze. Basically they pay by the application.



Thanks for the feedback. I'd love to hear how others handle this as well.
 
Sometimes you hav eto watc al a carte pricing. For people on here it would be great because we could get exactly what we want and need. But, if someone is coming to you to detail they probably have no clue how to and pricing al la carte would be confusing. They have no clue what those options even mean. Thats why they came to see you. You are teh expert you have to give them what they need all they want is a clean car and a fair price. You put the package together that will make there car clean

eg the "express detail". Make it easy for them!



If the customer knows a bit about detailing he will ask you for specific tasks, then you can price and perform them at that time.



Just my opion............



Also, It's your job to tell the customer what he needs,don't let him lead you or you'll be doing ridiculus things. Ofcourse be nice but remember your the expert..



Again this is just my opion

Thanks............Clint
 
This is where 'sperience and knowledge come into play. There is no simple formula to apply to know what to charge for a particular job. Every car is different so every job is different to a certain extent.



I like Shine Shop's idea of two packages, one for cars in good condition and one for cars in rougher condition. I don't like too much ala carte; its confusing and if you start suggesting multiple services it makes you look like you are trying to run up the price. Too much ala carte is bad even at McDonalds (too many choices and too much work for the restaurant). People don't need all that choice, they need a clean and polished car. Offer them a "good-better-best" and if they want more, they can ask. If they want less, cut em loose.
 
Hmm... Good points. I guess I was thinking of how I would want the choices to be. But most people aren't me (and the ones that are detail their own cars). Maybe I will rethink my pricing and just have a few packages. Thanks!
 
I agree totally with bretfraz about the experience factor.

You might lose a bit of money (hourly wage) on the first few cars, but that just the way it goes. You will be able to size up a vehicle's finish much better after the 50th or 60th job than you can on your first.



Good luck!
 
I offer two basic packages, with a few a la carte items, much like ShineShop. The Price List also has this prominent statement:



"Because each vehicle is unique, so is our pricing policy... Individual inspection and a thorough evaluation of the client's expectations allow us to provide a firm quote."



We are still going to miss on some, and win on others, but... I'm establishing a low volume, high quality shop. The vehicle isn't finished until I'm done.



In fact, at the front of the shop, clients will see a poster with the headline "In a Hurry?" It lists more than 25 area detailers, with phone and addresses. (The "hackers down the road".)



Does it take 4 hours, 6 hours, more? Good, efficient, competent work begets a fine product. Hopefully you make a fine reputation, and a dollar.



Just my thoughts...



Jim
 
bretfraz said:
This is where 'sperience and knowledge come into play. There is no simple formula to apply to know what to charge for a particular job. Every car is different so every job is different to a certain extent.



I like Shine Shop's idea of two packages, one for cars in good condition and one for cars in rougher condition. I don't like too much ala carte; its confusing and if you start suggesting multiple services it makes you look like you are trying to run up the price. Too much ala carte is bad even at McDonalds (too many choices and too much work for the restaurant). People don't need all that choice, they need a clean and polished car. Offer them a "good-better-best" and if they want more, they can ask. If they want less, cut em loose.
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Too much choice is a bad thing especially when it comes to detailing. If you give people too many choices they will more often than not always choose the cheapest way possible rather than the right way. I used to let people have complete control over what they got done at the shop but it got to be too much of a headache so I basically took it down to 6 packages and the customer chooses which they want rather than picking and choosing from a huge list. I always go over a car with the customer before I quote a price to diagnose any problems and let the customer know which package they need to correct them and how much it wil cost.
 
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